councilman24

Still have boxes full downstairs, many years worth, my daughters will likely have to throw them out when I die or get put in a home.  Can't bring myself to throw them out. 

9 hours ago, baseface2 said:

Hi,

My reserve pilot chute has been laying unenclosed in the room not to far from the window for about a week, in relatively warm weather. How badly could the fabric have been affected by this. And how can I check how bad it has been affected?

I will ofcourse ask a rigger to have a look at it when repacking, but im just very curious
 

Thank you

If is was not in the direct sunlight coming through the window and only exposed to a room lit with reflected sunlight little (likely no) effect.  Even if in the direct light through the window glass effectively blocks most of UV B, the UV wavelengths that affect nylon. It should be fine.

8 hours ago, riggerrob said:

Find an old rigger who still has the tools for pull-testing PD reserves or an even older, grumpy, gray-bearded rigger who used to test round reserves for acid-mesh.

The old rigger will have the rubber-jawed clamps and scale to precisely test the tensile strength of your pilot-chute's fabric. It is important to use the correct tools and techniques, because a clumsy test will pull holes in airworthy fabric.

A quicker test is to look for fading. I got a pilot-chute that had been laying out on a fence for 3 weeks after a reserve deployment. It was badly faded and I could easily pull it apart by hand - note experienced hand that had tested a thousand round canopies for acid-mesh.

Rob,

Every new rigger should have tensile testing clamps.  While PD dropped their yearly tensile test for their reserves 10 years ago or so the Evo Rush reserve requires a tensile test yearly.  In addition I think their is a round emergency canopy that requires one but would have to look to see if I remember that right.

In addition, you yourself have indicated why any rigger should have tensile testing clamps in your post above.

On 6/5/2023 at 8:21 AM, Josh0228 said:

Hello, 

Is Mark still providing these patterns? I would like them for my 1900 as well. Thank you! Josh

Has this year.

"§ 65.129 Performance standards.

No certificated parachute rigger may—

For a long time I didn't have an industrial machine. Now I have 63 industrial heads including these zig zag machines. 2 Pfaff 238's, 5 Singer 20u's, 2 Consew 199's, Bernina 217, 3 Bernona 217n's, a Sing 17w15 (highest foot lift) and an sailrite LSZ-1 (that I haven't used). But first I had a Husqvarna Viking like the one in the photo but without all the fancy stitches.  It STILL does zig zag on toggle noses better than any of the other zig zag machines. 6 layers of 1000lb type 4. If you can find one like this I'd grab it. 

Be aware a bartack is a specific pattern that includes straight and zig zag stitches. Various numbers if each stitch, sizes x and y, and starting and ending stitches. 

On 12/10/2022 at 11:03 AM, TampaPete said:

 

of the Pioneers

 

 

edit: There's a skydiving connection. Can it be found?

Spacecraft

https://m.facebook.com/groups/ParachuteRiggers/permalink/2996317873816275/

On 9/1/2022 at 1:31 PM, JerryBaumchen said:

Hi 13,

Since I got my Senior Rigger's ticket in '65, things may have changed.

From what I know, there is a Rigger ticket, below Senior Rigger level.  It is reserved for US military personnelle only.

Jerry Baumchen

I have CAA (FAA predecessor) regulations that list ratings, experience requirements and privileges for rigger, senior rigger, and master rigger.  Rigger and senior rigger hardly different.  So there WAS a civilian "rigger" rating. Pick of regs later.

After 35 years since I jumped a para commander and 17 years since last round jump jumped my Jumbo PC.  Steel in ankle and weight gain kept from jumping rounds. After talking to a few folks on FB Round group decided wise to jump into water first. About 305lbs exit weight. I was ready to jump it last October on land but got weathered out and dz's closed for winter. Water jump pick up boat and opportunity came up very short notice. As much fun as I remembered  and expected EXCEPT instant canopy. Discussion for rigging. 

Calculated descent rate somewhere around 17 fps.  I can take that onto land. 

On 4/17/2022 at 6:18 AM, mark said:

Atair?  If so, the seams were sewn, but the fabric was an impermeable composite.  The fabric was cut to size after being manufactured in sheets.  The intriguing idea was that the fabric could be laid up with reinforcing strands imbedded so reinforcing tapes wouldn't have to be added later, although this would require custom lay-ups for each panel.  Very hard to pack, since the sewing perforations were the only way for the air to escape.  

No it wasn't the Atair your posted about.

This is the BIG one.  On your sternum means you can get it with either hand and your sternum doesn't bend so knife never get in the way.

Reminds me I have/had one. Haven't seen it in years but I may know what file cabinet it's in.

On 4/14/2022 at 3:38 PM, padalcek said:

It has been tried on a canopy. Turned out it was impossible to pack.Kinda makes sense if you think about it a little.

Hmm, about 1999 or 2001, someone displayed a welded seam canopy at the PIA symposium. AFAIK is never made it to market and of course no other has. I don't believe the fabric was nylon.  I remember the look of the booth but not who it was. 

I don't get on here much anymore.  But... A jumper who was working construction in the summer and throwing students weekday evenings essentially left his Javelin in the trunk all summer.  Came to me for repack.  It took over 30 lbs of pressure to pull the sticky free bag off the canopy stack after the locking stows were out.  The bag was lifted off the floor between the anchored rig and my scale on the bridle.  Given the force data from the PIA PC freefall testing he would have towed it for a ways after a cutaway.

On 11/9/2021 at 4:23 PM, wmw999 said:

I know experienced jumpers who wear Pro-tecs, too. 
Wendy P. 

I resemble that remark.  I finally found a full face that fit my head, a Phantom X (kiss predecessor).  But I HATE jumping in a full face helmet.

I have jumped one and have a friend jumping it, a 20 plus year old one, as his routine main.  Should be a cheap reasonable main.

On 4/20/2005 at 7:21 AM, nicknitro71 said:

Quick question:

Is a Russian UT-15 complete system legal to be jumped in the US? I cannot find any TSO data on it.

Thanks a lot!

Memento Audere Semper

903

For a complete system that includes harness and reserve as well as main, it is not legal for a US citizen to jump.  The main in other TSO'd gear is. IF the UT 15 complete rig is legal in the home country of a non US citizen jumper then they can jump it here. i.e. a Russian citizen or if legal in Ukraine a Ukrainian.

On 11/9/2021 at 8:25 PM, fcajump said:

As the OP indicated they were talking of a "UT-15 complete system", I would amend that to read, "only reserves, harness, and containers" require a TSO.

IIRC - if it is a complete system, legal in its home country, and jumped here by someone _from_ that country, then it is legal.  But to be jumped here by anyone else, it must be US-TSO'ed.

JW

PS - here's where Counselman steps up and corrects me... for which my failing mind is, in fact, grateful.

 

Okay, If a non us citizen has a rig that is legal in their home country they can jump it here.  Lot's of more detail.  For instance a Russian had a French reserve not TSO'd in US.  It was legal in Russia so legal for him to jump here.  The nationality of the non US jumper does not have to match the country of origin of the gear.  We all read it like that for years but that's not what it says.

It also was not just the mesh as Rob mentioned.  I had a Pioneer with two panels on one gore next to one larger piece of mesh. So two pieces of white fabric next to one piece of mesh.  Had seen identical conditions since sewn together.  One panel full strength, one completely degraded. The two panels might have come from different lots, batches, rolls etc. but had been sewn next to each other.  We gave Invista, maker of nylon filament, samples of bad fabric.  IF they discovered the issue they never told the industry.  I did several high tech spectroscopic analysis on the bad versus good nylon. I couldn't identify the difference.

To the OP, I pack a lot of old stuff but I would not pack an old Securty LoPo  in a pilot rig.

I've added to my collection. I have a 217 with small cam lightly used as back up on upholstery shop $750, a 217n-8 no cam like new from older upholster's estate $400. A 217n-8 with cam in fair condition with rusty parts, $75, a clean 217n-8 except dropped and cracked casting and broken knee lift, $200. Those last two are going together to make one good one. And Thursday now a 217n-12 with cam needing a little tlc but should be good.  First 217 small cam had complete original cam set.  No other cams till last one which had the elusive large cam 308 double throw zig zag.  I have two consew 199r-2a's 308 stitch somenI'm well stocked.

Maybe I'll figure it out. Changing 1 1/2 shot capewells to New Old Stock R3's sometime soon when I get to it.  Just got the rivets from Paragear.  And yes I have the tool kit also NOS.

Yet all if those denigrating ripcord and spring loaded pilot chutes for wing suiting rely on them to save your ass when you can't get the throw out handle? Hmmm.

Many wingsuiters if not going to wingsuit specific canopies are going to triathlons, spectres, original Sabres. Canopies very much like those used by students with ripcords still at some dzs and for many years before most moved to throw outs for students.  These canopies may not be as fast with a pc dragging, but also for a couple of decades we didn't have or didn't routinely use collapsible throw out PCs.  So we were dragging an open PC on an 8ft bridle. Sounds familiar.  Put the spring loaded PC on a long bridle and it would work just as well. 

Might there be issues with a long bridle trailing? Yeah. But no more than not finding a handle and using your last chance to live, which happens to be a ripcord.;)

The main reason folks got rid of spring loaded PC's was the effort required to close the smaller containers and that it didn't look as cool. For many years we believed that the throw out still had to be visible.  Belly bands, front of leg strap rear of leg strap all came before BOCs. Which was still a change in paradyme in not being able to see what opened your parachute.

Is a throw out BOC best for a lot of skydiving? Sure. Maybe. Does a ripcord still work? Yep. But when we want to save our life in any situation we use a spring and a ripcord.

And wingsuits with more and more rigid arms may need a thumb operated electrically released spring loaded PC. Or spring launched throw out like the T11 chest reserve? Hmmm.

Rant off.

The canopies should fit appropriately.  There is nothing wrong with b12 snaps.  They or similar snaps have been part of every military parachute system since 1920 until recently.  Have an experienced rigger show you how they may stick and how to fix it.  They may not be quite as idiot proof as friction adapters but if you are that much of an idiot you shouldn't be jumping.  The video wasn't the snaps fault. The fit of the harness can only be evaluated in person.

I recently serviced a rig a new jumper had just purchased from a Master Rigger.  The harness had damage, the cutaway cables were staggered in the wrong order, the soft ripcord was not up to current standards and too long, the risers were 'I'll jump them today but not tomorrow' condition, the webbing holding the main pin was worn half way through, and the main bag had been patched but still had a 2 inch slit in it. In addition it is an orphan rig with new reserve free bags and pilot chutes no longer available. 

There are very few people I'll buy something from without a pre-purchase inspection. If the seller won't do it I find another deal. This newbie had to spend about $400 to fix the rig and I cut him a break on labor and found like new used risers about half of new.  We thought he was going to have to spend about $200 more.  No price is that good.  I have one coming now for inspection where the price seems to good.  Well find out why.

I've just started watching some of Colin's videos.  There is a lot of very good information.  But, if you do this you are now a TEST JUMPER. His idea is your putting back something that was there and has worn off.  But he does know what was there, how much, etc.  Not quite sure what problem he's trying to solve.  But you may have hard openings, slow openings, longer lasting lines, shorter life lines, wear out grommets.  ALL BETS ARE OFF. 

In the days of dacron we used to do crazy stuff with it.  Soap, various sprays, etc.  Mainly openings were getting too slow.  But remember slow then was what today's jumpers call a hard opening.  If our canopies in the 80's came CLOSE to sniveling as long as today's designs they were a malfunction and cutaway.  The first time I jumped a canopy designed for one of these long sniveling openings the owner warned me that it would take 500 to 800 feet to open and to not cut it away.